Physician Assistant - Primary Care

Full Job Description

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program.

You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply. Physician Assistant Basic Requirements Citizen of the United States [in accordance with section 7402(c) to title 38,United States Code (U.S.C.).

Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with 38 U.S.C.

§ 7407(a).] Master's degree in any discipline or a bachelor's degree in any discipline with one year of experience as a Physician Assistant ~AND~ Successfully passed the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) (or are you in the process to taking the exam) ~AND~ Currently hold, or will hold, a full and unrestricted license to practice in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

PAs must maintain current registration in the State of licensure if this is a requirement for continuing active and current licensure in that State.

Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). GRANDFATHERING PROVISION.

All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification.

For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: a.

If a PA is certified by the NCCPA, but not licensed on the effective date of the qualification standard, they are not required to obtain or maintain a license to remain employed in VHA.

However, if they lose or fail to maintain their NCCPA certification after this qualification standard is effective and do not possess a full, valid, and unrestricted license, they are no longer qualified for employment as a PA in VHA.

b.

PAs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.

c.

If a PA who was retained under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee will lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

d.

PAs initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification and meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard, must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.

e.

PAs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates: Physician Assistant-I (PA-I) Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to utilize the principles of PA practice in the care of assigned patients to provide appropriate care. Ability to perform patient history and physical.

Ability to formulate a plan and provide treatment to the patient. Ability to provide patient care that is abreast of changing concepts and advancements in the profession.

Physician Assistant-II (PA-II) Experience and Education: Two (2) years of successful practice as a PA OR Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S.

Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency OR A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Skills to analyze and solve complex medical problems. Ability to function autonomously and make independent medical decisions.

Skill to incorporate training and experience into the successful practice of patient care including telehealth medical care.

Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary environment for improvement of services for patient care. Ability to practice with colleagues and peers collaboratively.

Physician Assistant-III (PA-III) Experience and Education: Three (3) years of successful practice as a PA OR Successful completion of a PA post-graduate residency program sponsored by VHA Office of Academic Affiliations or other postgraduate residency programs accredited by VA, ARC-PA, U.S.

Armed Forces, or another accrediting agency and one year of professional practice as a PA OR A doctoral degree in a health-related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education and one year of professional practice as a PA.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to clinically evaluate facility patient care delivery systems and validate or identify barriers to safe and effective patient care.

Skill to consistently demonstrate an elevated level of expertise and autonomy in diagnosing and treating seriously ill, multi-symptomatic patients through facility Focused Professional Practice Evaluation (FPPE) and Ongoing Professional Practice Evaluation (OPPE).

Ability to present clinical findings and recommendations to appropriate management officials.

Ability to clinically facilitate the delivery of patient care in collaboration with health professionals, health managers, and other health care personnel.

Ability to implement and initiate clinical changes to established treatment protocols based upon new medical literature research findings to enhance patient delivery care for improved patient outcomes.

Ability to participate clinically in the development of the PA patient care audit processes involving in-depth review and analysis of medical records.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is VN-3.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of VN-1 to VN-3.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 lbs; light lifting, under 15 lbs; moderate carrying, 15-44 lbs; reaching above shoulders; use of fingers; both hands required; walking 6-8 hours; standing 6-8 hours; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted) min 15/20 one ear and mental and emotional stability required.

Major Duties:

The Lebanon VA Medical Center is seeking Physician Assistant applicants for its Community Based Clinics.

Physician Assistants provide comprehensive primary care services for patients in Primary Care setting in the assigned location at one of the four VA Community Clinic locations; Cumberland VA Clinic, York VA Clinic, Lancaster VA Clinic or Berks VA Clinic.

Physician Assistant duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Incumbent works with a designated collaborating physician.

The incumbent provides both routine scheduled appointments as well as urgent or same day care when indicated.

Primary Care is comprehensive and continuous and covers preventative and psycho-social aspects of patient management.

Incumbent provides histories and physicals, (H and P's) pre-operative assessment under supervision and co-signature of collaborative physician, orders subspecialty consults, tests, prosthetic requests, completes forms on veteran's behalf that are within the treatment purview of the incumbent, and performs other clinical duties as directed deemed by service chief and collaborative physician to be appropriate and in the interest of the Veteran.

Incumbent works cooperatively with professionals throughout the medical center to make sure all aspects of care are coordinated. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHAVISN04HREDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance.

Learn more Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification) Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm